Traditions

The Series - "March to the Stadium"


The Series (8.9 MB) 		The Series is the cadence used by the band as it marches to and from the Stadium on game days.

It is actually a series of seven different cadences strung together in march tempo. Each cadence has its own set of maneuvers performed by various parts of the band. For example, the tubas will dance during one cadence, while the trumpets perform horn flashes during another.

The Kickstep

The Kickstep is the percussion cadence and associated choreography that the band uses to enter the field each pregame at Spartan Stadium.

Established in 1954 (the first year MSU attended the Rose Bowl) the kickstep has become an SMB trademark. It is performed at 220 beats per minute and choreographed in eight-count segments with horn, knee, and hand accents on counts two and four.


The Kickstep (9.5 MB)

The Spartan Color Guard

The Spartan Color Guard is an auxiliary unit reflecting the very best in today's contemporary color guard activity. We combine the art of body movement, choreography, and equipment technique with the obligation to visually enhance the band's drill and music. Combined with the entertainment value that is brought to the overall Spartan Marching Band presence, the Color Guard is a vital and integral unit of the Spartan Band. This unit was added to the Spartan Marching Band in 1978.

The Big Ten Flags

The "Big Tens" perform with large banner type flags on large "lance" poles which salute the eleven universities currently in the Big Ten Conference: Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and new member Penn State. The Big Tens are a great pregame and parade tradition of the Spartan Band.

Spartan Percussion


MSU Drumline (11.7 MB)

The Spartan marching percussion section is world renown as the innovators of the very best in college band rudimental marching percussion. They are the three time national champions (three-peat) of the collegiate division "Bands of America" marching percussion contest held in Indianapolis, IN. They are a crowd favorite in Spartan Stadium or wherever the Spartan Band travels.

Instrumentation

The Spartan Marching Band instrumentation is unique in the United States, as no other collegiate marching band utilizes our exact instrumentation. In addition to our percussion and flag units, you will find:

  • 32 Alto Saxophones
  • 16 Tenor Saxophones
  • 48 B Flat Trumpets
  • 8 E flat Cornets,
  • 24 Mellophones
  • 32 Trombones
  • 16 Baritones
  • 16 Sousaphones
There are no flutes or clarinets in the Spartan Marching Band.

Feature Twilers

Michigan State University has attracted the finest feature twirlers in the United States for many years. We do not feature a twirling line or team. On the contrary, we attract the best the country has to offer in athletic, competitive feature twirlers.

The Seven-Up

As the Spartan Marching Band marches its pregame routine down the field, you will notice all of the instrumentalists and auxiliary performers executing an accented 8th count on their horn swing. New members learn this maneuver as a "7-up", counted as such: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - UP!!!!!